DA LAT!

I love this place really a lot! Everything is nice over there. The hotel, weather and stuffs over there, especially the place seems very ‘’paris’’. For people like me, who likes Paris but don’t have the chance to go there. Consider this place too! The journey to Da Lat is about 6hours. However, during the journey, we had been sleeping, listening to the tour guide’s stories and all. Finally, we had reached Da Lat in the afternoon. We headed for the Dambri Waterfall first. However, BAD NEWS! After our lunch, it RAINED! :( Not only never get to sit the roller coaster which we get to control the speed ourselves, we never even get to see the waterfall. Because it was too dangerous to go there if there is rain. Thinking of this, it is really sad to miss out this. Hence, we headed for the city. Before heading out for our dinner, we checked in to our hotel to rest awhile. The city is much smaller as compared to HCM city. However, I find it nicer perhaps more to the type I liked. It seems more peaceful. Then we went to have our dinner before our shopping at night market starts.

For the next day, we went to a few places. The first places we headed for is Golden Valley Tourist Site. The whole place is filled with flowers. The planting are also well maintained. The whole place is really beautiful and with the weather. PERFECT! There are also man-made waterfalls when we walked around. The place is also surrounded with trees.

After that, we headed for Liang Biang Mountain. We took a jeep up to the mountain top. The scenery was so perfect that it looks like it is done by Photoshop. Too real that it seems fake. There are also a few swings at there. I am sure not many had been on a swing at such a tall mountain. :D:D The breeze on top of the mountain is even better.

Next we headed for Dreaming Hill. It is filled with miniatures of other countries’ landmarks, like The Great Wall of China etc. From what I think, there’s nothing much there. I think because this isn't really any special of Vietnam, as this is what can be seen in other countries. Most importantly, the real thing. Then, we went to the opposite road to buy local tidbits. &of course we bought a lot:)

Next, we headed to a train station. What’s special about it can be considered as one of their historical site, as it had been there for many years already. Most importantly, it is built by the French during the period they conquer Vietnam for near 100years. Over so many years, but still standing strong. However, of course, it doesn't work anymore.

Our next stop is Domain de Marie church. We never went in, but we took some photos outside of it. It’s kind of special, as it is my first time seeing a rooster on top of the cross.

Next stop is the house where the last king stayed in. Before we went in, we bought Kem (Ice cream in Vietnamese). Their ice cream is special, they put carnation milk and peanut on the top. Though it had everything in it, but it is quite small. Then we know that actually that house is for the king to come for their holidays. Before the walk in the house, we will need to wear something to cover up our shoes. I think they are afraid that our footprints will leave marks on the floor. The King's room had even a balcony which is faced to see the moon! The king and his wife had also separate room, I wonder why.

For the both night, in Da Lat, we went to their market there. The stuffs their market sell is really special, and I really love it. Most of the stuffs they sell are knitted ones! I extremely love knitted stuffs. In Singapore, it is expensive because they are handmade, and we won’t get much chance to wear, since we had only one season all year round. Especially if you wear knitted clothes out, many will give you weird glares. Back to the market, I find that the stall holders now are more persistent with the price they sell to us. Though we know that they sell maybe 30,000dong to the locals there, they will still sell more expensive like 150,000dong.* Though they still it more expensive, we still think that it is worth to buy as it is quite cheap for handmade stuffs. Hence, bargaining here doesn’t really work. Before heading back to hotel, drank soya bean milk. Da Lat is famous for their peanut soya milk. Most of the stall tendors selling food there are illegal. This is because we had even experience that the police came, and the next thing, all the stalls along the streets gone. However, just minutes later, they are back. This shows that the law here isn't strict enough too.

*14000 dong = SGD$1

Let's go to Nha Trang next!~

Song Be Golf Resort.

Today, we woke up earlier than usual as we headed for Song Be Golf resort. Had visited there, as it is closely linked to what we learnt in our course. One of the two shareholders for the golf resort is Singaporean. When we reached there, they explained to us about how they manage the golf course, how’s the design like and etc. After the explanation, they bring us around with a minivan. There are 3 parts in the golf course – desert, lotus and palms. Though they claimed to be one of the smallest golf courses in Vietnam, but it was really big that it can even be said to be 10times a golf course in Singapore. This shows the amount of different land space between Vietnam and Singapore. In the golf course, they are so many facilities that really making me want to spend my night there! We are not the only Singaporeans student over there. There are also 6 students from other Singapore’s polytechnics there for their OIP (oversea immersion program) or attachment.

Then headed out in the minivan for our trip around the golf course, at certain parts of the trip, we will get off the van. This is where they will explain to us more about their golf course, like how they maintain it. They even show us the compost heap. This really reminds me of Planting Maintenance! (one of the module which we took last semester)

After the trip around the place, the boss was even so kind to invite us to the restaurant for buffet! I think this one of the best meal I had in Vietnam. Hehe. During the lunch, he will even sit down and eat and talk with us. Before we left the place, we took a few photos there together and they even packed Samosa for us to bring back and eat. They are really nice, I hope I get a boss like this in the future or even when I am going for Year 3's attachment.

Goodnight everyone, and I am going for my 5days trip. Byebye!:D

Historical Day

For today, it is a day of historical day. We get to visit places where there are the traces of the wars. Woke up earlier than usual, we are heading out early as we are going to Cu Chi Tunnel Tour. The journey to the place was 2 hours. During the journey, everyone slept!:P Finally, we had reached the destination. We get to explore the place where we see Ben Duoc and Ben Dinh tunnels. We get to see the self invented weapons by the Vietnamese and the tunnels they made. Those traps just by seeing can make you goosebump. It just shows how smart they are. We get to try out to climb in the tunnel ourselves too. Just 20m and the biggest tunnel, we already cannot take it. I really admire those Vietnamese who survived through all these. It takes really a lot of courage and the ‘never say die’ attitude to make them survive through all these. After the tour, we went to have our lunch at Ben Dinh Restaurant.

Smallest tunnel.

Traps invented by the Vietnamese

Weapons which the Vietnamese made.

Then another 2 hours to go to the War Remnants Museum. This museum is full of photos and also there is also the US weapons (bombs and shells etc.) and the tiger cage. Seeing all these, really feel sad for the Vietnamese. It can really make one person tears drop by seeing all these. In Singapore, though we had experienced World War 2 too, however, it can never be compared to the Vietnam, because they had survived through this war for 17years+. The last stop of our day is Reunification Palace. It is somehow similar like Singapore’s Istana. It is a place for the president, meeting place, recreational place for them and all. The view from the top of the building is also marvelous.

View from the side entrance.

The scenery there was really nice, hence, we took a few photos!:D

Day and Night Markets!

For today, we got to go Day and Night Market. The journey was fast compared to the others when we are going into the City area, as there is no traffic jam. If there is traffic jam, it can take up to hours for the journey. Unlike Singapore, this will not really happen. As I walked along this market, it reminds me much of Bangkok's chatuchuk which is similar to it. However in Singapore, there isn’t these type of market. In these markets, bargain is allowed. We are able to get a thing at 50-70% cheaper than the original price.

Before heading for our shopping spree, we finally went to eat PHO ( famous Vietnam’s food ) Originally it’s beef noodles, however, there is also chicken noodle. I think it’s a pleasure to eat a traditional food at the origin country and it’s the first time I eating PHO. The place where we ate the PHO is PHO 2000, even Bill Clinton went to this shop to eat.

PHO ga! ( PHO chicken )

ga = chicken!

For the first market, Ben Thanh Market, it seems to be situated at the central of HCM city. It was crowded there. Though it’s small but it had a lot of things. At these places, we can get to find a lot of handmade stuffs.

After that, we headed for the second market, Binh Tay Market. The experience there isn’t good at all. The walking spaces for us only allow one person at a time. This is not the worst. The attitude of the store keepers is bad. They just ignore you, or if you buy little things, they will show a black face. However, of course, there are also store keepers that are friendly, even having motherly feel. If these attitudes are shown in Singapore, they will definitely got scold by their boss or even customers. For the night, we went back to Ben Thanh Market, as there will be Night market over there. Temporary stalls are being set up along the roadside. These totally cannot be found in Singapore, because of danger and hygiene issues.

What I experience to these markets is that when your bargains to these stallholders do not work, and when you walked away, they will keep on pester you till a price where both can agree. If this was in Singapore, the stall keeper won’t even care. If you don’t want to buy, that’s your problem.

Roadside stall

The har gow &carrot cake which I really miss!

At the street of Ben Thanh

GREEN SUNDAY!

Today is Green Sunday! Our task is to pick rubbish along the stretch of road outside of our hostel. There are really a lot of litters. Doing this, made me thinks of Corrective Work Order. Haha! I hope these litters bugs won’t keep on throw rubbish so that the next time we won’t have so much rubbish to pick. xP I think that the problem where they throw the rubbish anywhere they like is because Vietnam is not like Singapore. In Singapore, rubbish bins can be found within a few steps. However, in here, it is not easy to spot rubbish bins. After that, we went back to our hostel to wash up as everyone is sweaty all over.

Then we headed to student village. Student village is situated in the university itself. You all can imagine how big the university is! If only Ngee Ann poly have one too! :D However, because of the limited space in Singapore, this won’t happen. In the student village, it seems to be full of everything- restaurants, supermarket, market and many more. Then we went to eat our dinner-fried rice, which only cost 12.000dong (S$ 0.90), even tea are provided free for us. If this is back in Singapore, the fried rice won’t even cost this amount, and the tea will need us to pay extra fees. This shows the difference the living standards in a developed and developing country.

END OF FIRST WEEK!^^

Vietnamese

For our morning lesson, we had Vietnamese language. Xin Chao, Xin loi, Dung roi and many more. This is our first time getting in contact with this language where it had been a stranger. Never thought before that we will get in touch with this language, it is very new for the most of us. Leaning Vietnamese language isn't easy, it's tiring. This is because there are 6 notations, when having the lesson, I always feel that I am out of breathe at the end of the lesson. Chinese is much more easier to learn than this, as we had only 4notations in the Han Yu Pin Yin. With these notations, a same word but different notations can make a big difference. Hence, we must be careful when we talked, if we sounds wrong just a little, can change the meaning of the word.

We had core module for our afternoon lesson, we learnt to draw perspective view. For today, we drew one point perspective view. I find it quite management as for now, as I had learn this in my previous IS module, however of course a little much more complicated.

For the night, we went down to the lobby for Exchange activities with the Vietnam National University students. To our surprise, most of them know how to speak fluent English. We had some ice breaking games, and it was really fun. We get to make new friends, and are of another nationality. During the games, we got to know our leader who is a Vietnamese, who I think is funny. The English pronunciation he had is also clear. After our games, we also get to have prizes which are tidbits. Overall, it was a rather fun day, knowing people and playing with people from other countries isn’t what many people can experience.

City tour!

For the morning, we had our first official lecture, IS module – Geography and Culture of Vietnam. It gives us a better knowledge on Vietnam’s geography and culture. Having this lesson, remind me of Secondary school where we have geography lesson which is one of my worst subject. We get to know that there are 3 parts in Vietnam, the south, north and central. We also get to know the cultural of Vietnam. We also get to know that not only the girls wear Ao Dai, the guys also wear it too. However, as time pass, where cultural practices are not taken so seriously, both genders need not wear it every day. They only need to wear at important occasions like weddings, working needs.

For the afternoon, we went to City tour. Before our city tour, we went to have lunch at a restaurant. After that, headed for the ZOO! It just cost S$1+ to go in. However, there is nothing much compared to Singapore Zoological Gardens. It was rather unorganized and not much animals as compared to our zoo. I guess this is the amount you pay is the amount you get. Hence, we won’t ask for much too. In the zoo, we also saw a cat with rat in its mouth. Perhaps many think that this is nothing special or what. However, to me it’s something rather special, this is because in Singapore, the cats just keep on ‘’meow’’ till they get the food. The reason is because Singapore’s cats are just too plain lazy to prey for their own food.
After our trip to zoo, off we go to the city’s shopping centre. It is something like ION, with those branded shops. Hence, the things there is rather expensive, didn’t buy much things from there. Ate cookies and cream ice cream which I had been craving for! XP The standard of the ice cream is somehow similar like Ben &Jerry, but of course cheaper. For our dinner, we headed for the welcome party at one buffet restaurant. The food there was rather nice and a lot. There are many types of food, some Vietnam cuisine. However, I do not know how to appreciate some of it. The foods are mostly bland and consist of many vegetables. Most importantly, some of the vegetables are raw!, as in Singapore the vegetables are always cooked together with the dish. I also found out that the Vietnam’s food are much healthier compared to Singapore. In every dish they have, there will be cucumbers and tomatoes. I think the first step to our healthy diet in Singapore, would be adding these vegetables in our dish.